Hey guys. Wow it's been such a long time since I've updated this story and I am really sorry for the long wait, but I just got a job and have been there every afternoon all week and when I get home I'm just so tired. Seriously, I had no idea being a cashier was so difficult! Did you know that we have to tell the difference betweens all the different types of apples and there are a lot of those let me tell you! AND I can't tell the difference between plums and peaches! Does anyone know how to tell coz I'm dying in there!
Zoe walked into the corridor, letting go a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding.
"Zoe?" asked River, who had snuck up behind her, "I brought them some clothes."
"How'd you- right. That's right. Of course you knew. They're-"
"Just inside. I know."
River passed her and walked into the room behind her.
Zoe sighed and walked around the ship, unsure of where she was going. It was times like these that she really missed her husband. He'd be there to comfort her and tell her that this was all bonkers, making her laugh.
"Hey Zoe."
Zoe looked up. She was in the infirmary and there was Mal. Simon was nowhere to be seen.
"Hey Captain," she said.
"It's been such a long time since I've been called that," he said smiling.
"Kaylee's been calling you that since you got back," said Zoe, walking further into the room.
"I know. But it's different coming from you."
She jumped up on one of the seats on the edge of the room and watched Mal studying her.
"What?" she asked, she was not used to this sort of behaviour from her closest friend.
"How you holding up?" he asked unexpectedly.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean Wash, Zoe."
This threw her. The months after Wash's death, she'd never heard him mutter her husbands name once, let alone talk to her about him.
"I'm dealing," she said, "I've been more focused on rescuing you on whatever prison you were being held in."
Mal laughed. She'd never heard him laugh like that. So easily and freely.
"If it makes you feel any better I was in prison for a bit. Nowhere you could have broken into but. And I mean no offence by that. I'm sure you would have given it a mighty try but you all would have died in the attempt. Even with little River," he said.
It was Zoë's turn to study him. And his turn to ask, "What?"
"Earth-That-Was has been good for you," she said.
"Yeah," he smiled, "Nothing like this place though."
"What'd you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"How did you live? Survive? Kate told me you weren't a cop but you helped out the cops. What were you? Surely they didn't pay you?"
"No. I made money. Had to. New York is a tough city to live in," he said.
"You still haven't answered my question," she said.
"It doesn't matter," he said, "What's with these Reevers turning up everywhere?"
"You know about them do you?" she asked, noting the change in subject.
"Yeah. I met up with Fanty and Mingo to get some information and was interrupted by the alarm."
Zoe nodded, "Yeah I heard about that. They killed a lot of people. The alarms were installed a couple of months ago after the Alliance realized what was happening. No one knows what set them off."
"Alexis saw them…" he left the sentence hanging but Zoe knew exactly what he meant.
"Poor girl. Speaking of which, you failed to tell us she was your daughter," said Zoe with a grin.
"Did I?" said Mal grinning, "They told you I suppose."
"They sure did."
"What else they tell you?" he asked.
"Not a lot. They're a quiet bunch," she said.
"Ha! Not normally. But I suppose it has to be pretty scary. I mean being in the future. In a space ship with a bunch of criminals," he said.
"What's going to happen to them? They going to stay here with us?" she asked.
But Mal surprised her and shook his head, "No. I wanted to talk to you about that. We need to find a way to get them home."
F_I_R_E_F_L_Y_C_A_S_T_L_ERiver slid the canvas door open and walked into the room, aware that all the occupants were watching her, studying her. She handed them each some clothes. Some of her own for Alexis but no way would they fit Kate, so she'd grabbed some of Zoë's. Kevin had some of Simon's but Esposito had to deal with some of Jayne's.
"Thanks," said Alexis, polite as ever but clearly scared of her.
"How'd you get these so quickly? Or is the others quarters just down the hall or something?" asked Esposito.
"No. It's on the other side of the ship," she answered and then she knew. It was like a moment of clarity whenever this happened. Like she'd just realized something, remembered.
"Mal didn't tell you everything," she said.
"I'm sorry what?" asked Kate.
"He didn't tell you everything. He thought it would frighten you. He thought it too much to burden you with. He doesn't want you to know everything so you can go home with minimal damage." She never meant to say all that but it tumbled out anyway.
"What do mean? How do you know this?" Kate asked angrily.
Instead of answering River just walked out of the room. She heard the others calling after her and she could sense one of them following her. But unfortunately for them Jayne walked around the corner at that time.
"Hey! You get back in your gorram room! You ain't to wander round you hear me?" he said and Kate reluctantly went back to the room to wait.
